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06/30/2006 12:14:13 AM · #1 |
I use acronis true image to backup my data. I have a backup of all my images onto an external harddrive. I now need to clear some space on my working harddrive and thus need to delete alot of old images.
My backup is set to run once a week to make a differential beckup (backs up only changes made since last back up). I suddenly got worried that if I delete images and then the backup runs again it will modify the backed up files (on the external hdd) and I will lose those deleted files.
I know that doesn't really make any sense but I got worried. Please calm me down :) |
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06/30/2006 02:36:46 AM · #2 |
Sounds like you need to check the settings for your backup software -- look for something that tells it what to do when a file in the backup isn't there anymore.
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More directly to the point, but speaking more generally, a partial backup will usually only look at the 'dirty' flag of a file -- this is meta-data that is set when the file is created or modified and reset when backed up. A partial backup needs only look for and backup those files that have that flag set. A file that is no longer there will not be available to have it's flags inspected.
David
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07/01/2006 02:21:31 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by David.C:
that is set when the file is created or modified and reset when backed up. A partial backup needs only look for and backup those files that have that flag set. A file that is no longer there will not be available to have it's flags inspected.
David |
So if the original file doesn't exist anymore (and thus the flag) nothing will be modified in regards to that file in the backup?
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07/01/2006 02:25:29 AM · #4 |
You don't have a thing to worry about. Automated backup software never deletes anything from previous backups, just adds to them or makes whole new sets, depending on how it's configured.
As far as I know, anyway. It's unthinkable to me that any backup software would remove from backup anything that's not currently on the disk being backed up, that would defeat the whole purpose.
R.
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07/01/2006 03:03:28 AM · #5 |
I use SyncToy from MS to backup to an external HD.
With that software you have to be very careful with your settings, because in some cases if you delete a file from your C: drive it *will* delete from the external HD. Check your settings.
Best thing is to run a test. Create a file on your C: drive, do your backup as normal, then delete it and run the backup again to see what happens. That way you can be sure. |
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07/01/2006 11:20:50 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Refwhett:
Originally posted by David.C:
that is set when the file is created or modified and reset when backed up. A partial backup needs only look for and backup those files that have that flag set. A file that is no longer there will not be available to have it's flags inspected.
David |
So if the original file doesn't exist anymore (and thus the flag) nothing will be modified in regards to that file in the backup? |
Yes, but check your backup software. Some backup utilities go beyond just making a backup an try to keep the duplicate exactly the same as the original (such as SyncToy which John mentioned).
Each backup software package has different option and does things a bit differently trying to get market share. The only thing to do is to become more familiar with how your backup software works. Read the manual/help files, perform some tests (again as John suggested) and learn what it does and how to control it.
David
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07/01/2006 01:19:02 PM · #7 |
Then there are some which keep all versions of all documents until you instruct the software to delete them.
mydocumentsbackup.com
Message edited by author 2006-07-01 17:20:15. |
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07/01/2006 01:29:41 PM · #8 |
thanks for all the help. I will run a test. Like Bear said I can't imagin that it will do that since it's not a image ghost but rather a BACKUP software. I ust got worried.
Thank you. |
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